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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonto ... /20/housing-ed.html
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; J( D. u/ o1 {6 m5 ]Edmonton plans thousands of affordable homes
+ u5 e, t% }# X5 O, A1 ZLast Updated: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 | 11:02 AM MT
7 `0 [, V2 c+ r0 Q* zCBC News
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6 _7 Q" c s2 ]+ PAn ambitious city plan to build almost 4,000 new units of affordable housing in Edmonton over the next three years is welcome news for an advocate for the poor.
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4 F( D- v2 k% _7 DCam McDonald, a spokesman with the YMCA, said demand is brisk these days for the organization's simple accommodations, which have become home to hundreds of people.& f& a& E5 w8 s4 v
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The $170 million project, approved Tuesday by city council, could lighten that load by providing everything from new apartment units to basement suites and mobile homes, he said.
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1 n" O/ P5 A5 C"I'm hoping that we can really start adding to the affordable housing, transition housing and supportive housing infrastructure in our community," he said.' Y7 R- c6 ~. b" X
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In the past, most people stayed at the YMCA for a few days or weeks until they could get established. Now they remain for months.: L* H/ m; F' [8 }. D* I; h
0 t/ U" f# ?' w; r$ K6 ^! L, q/ t"I did find a job within the first couple of days, but it's very difficult to find a place to live," said Darlene LePage, who moved from Montreal with her daughter to make a better life in boom-time Alberta.
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City officials hope some of the new affordable housing units will be ready in as soon as 18 months.
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But McDonald said the work will have to continue for five or even 10 years if Edmonton is going to meet the needs of those who can't find affordable housing.- o3 |- T4 [ G" d" B) Q
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"It's going to take time — this is not an overnight solution by any means — but I think we are making good progress." |
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